Liquid-agitator.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN VALIQUETTE AND MICHAEL VALIQUETTE, OF CUMMINGS BRIDGE, ONTARIO,CANADA.

LIQUID-AGITATOR.

l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 9, 1908.

Application filed September 28, 1907. Serial No. 394,999.

To all whom it may concern:

E-gBe it known that we, JOHN VALIQUETTE and MICHAEL VALIQUETTE, both ofthe village of Cummings Bridge, in the county of Carleton, Province ofOntario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Liquid-Agitators, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to improvements in liquid agitators and theobjects of our invention are to provide an agitator, particularlyadaptable for circulating the liquid and lime in the tanning process,whereby the labor hitherto necessary to accomplish this matter 1s savedand the process is carried out with a decreased amount of lime and itconsists essentially of a vat having means thereon for verticallysuspending the hides, a continuous chain provided with paddles extendingalong the ends and bottom of the vat, and partitions preventing thehides from contacting with the chain, all as hereinafter more fully setforth and described in the accompanying specification and drawings.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional view through the agitator. Fig.2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of theagitator chain. Fig. l is a perspective detail showing the mode ofsuspension of the hides.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure.

A is the vat of the usual construction set on a suitable foundation B.Along the two sides of the vat, piping c and b run being connected atthe extremities to the side of the vat. The hides o are suspendedvertically from this piping by means of hooks d connected to the hidesand extending over the piping.

C and D are two endless chains supported on two sets of sprocket Wheelse, f, g, h, and t', which are supported on shafts y', Ys, l, m and n.

The lower shafts m and n are journaled in the sides of the vat and theupper shafts y', c and Z are journaled in suitable bearings supported onstandards, o, p and q, which are secured in the foundation B. The outershaft Z has a pulley r connected thereto, by means of which the twochains may berotated and the shaft has a suitable form of tighteningdevice s connected thereto.

Connected to both chains and extending substantially normal thereto, area plurality of paddles t which operate to stir the liquid or mixture ofliquid and solid in the vat.

These paddles and the chain itself may be of any desired construction.The connecting means between the two, which I have illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, comprises outwardly projecting lugs u, integralwith the chain and which are bolted to the paddles.

To prevent the hides swinging laterally and striking against the chain,we provide partitions E and E, extending across the vats and reaching tothe bottom of the hides.

There are also provided guard bars G at the bottom preventing the hidestouching the chain as it runs along the bottom, should they becomedisengaged and drop down.

It will thus be seen that we have devised an exceedingly cheap andsimple form of agitator, which may be used for a variety of purposes. Inoperation, the chain is rotated continuously, insuring a completecirculation of the liquid. Particularly is it adaptable for the purposeof circulating the liquid and lime in the tanning process, as in thiscase, the hides being hung vertically are reached on all sides by theliquid which is in constant circulation. This is a considerable advanceover the old method of treating with lime in which the hides were simplypiled in a vat and the mixture of lime and liquid poured thereon.

While the invention has been described herein with great particularityof detail, yet it will be readily understood that in carrying out theconstruction of the same, changes may be made therein without departingInaterially from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim as our invention is 1. An improved agitator for mixturesemployed to treat solid substances, comprising a plurality of chainsextending into the mixture, paddles thereon, and means for preventingthe solid substances contacting with the chain, as and for the purposespecified.

2. An improved agitator for the liquid employed to treat hidescomprising a suitable vat, a chain running along the ends and bottom ofthe vat, means for supporting and rotating the same, paddles on thechains, and partitions at each end preventing the hides contacting withthe chains, as and for the purpose specified.

n improved agitator for treating hides comprising a suitable vat, meanson the side thereof for suspending the hides vertically in the vat,chains extending along the end and bottom of the vat, means forsupporting and rotating the same, paddles on the chains and partitionspreventing` the hides Contacting with the Chains, as and for the purposespecified.

4. An improved agitator vfor tanningl proC- esses, ComprisingI asuitable vat, bars extending along the side of the same, to which thehooks on the hides are adapted to be oonnected, chains extending alongthe ends and bottom of the vat, means for supporting and rotating` thechains, paddles on the chains,l

and partitions preventing the hides Contacting with the Chains, as andfor the purpose specified.

Signed at Ottawa, Province of Ontario, this 23rd day of September, 1907.

'JOHN VALIQUETTE.

Mi'oHAEL vALiQUETTE.

RUSSEL S. SMART,

I fitnessesz MARY C. LYON.

